Japan: Land of the Rising Sun
Overview
Highlights
- Soar high above Lake Ashi and (on a clear day) get a glimpse of glorious Mt Fuji on a ride on the Hakone ropeway.
- Be impressed by the efficiency and ultra modernity of Japan’s bullet trains as you zip from place to place.
- Explore traditional Japanese culture in Edo-period Takayama and visit a folk village, tour a 600-year-old market and a enjoy a sake brewery tasting.
- Visit the Peace Park for moving insight into the devastation of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, then cruise to peaceful Miyajima Island where wild deer roam the streets.
- Finish your trip with three nights in Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital and home to literally thousands of temples, the Gion District where Geisha entertain the wealthy elite and renowned Kyoto sushi.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- Nikko - Toshogu Shrine
- Hakone - Cable car/Ropeway
- Hakone - Lake Ashinoko boat cruise
- Takayama - Hida Folk Village
- Takayama - Market visit with snack sampling
- Takayama - Sake brewery tasting
- Takayama - Incense making in Zenkoji Temple
- Hiroshima - Peace Park & A - Bomb Dome
- Hiroshima - Peace Museum
- Hiroshima - Okonomiyaki dinner
- Hiroshima - Miyajima Island
- Himeji - Himeji Castle
- Kyoto - Gion District walk
- Kyoto - Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Kyoto - Fushimi Inari-Taisha
- Kyoto - Japanese sweet making & Mocha tea experience
- Kyoto - Nishiki Market walk with snack sampling
Popular Trips
Itinerary
Konnichiwa! Welcome to Japan. Bursting with contemporary urban culture, there are many sides of Tokyo to explore, from fascinating museums and world-class shopping to neighbourhood backstreets lined with hole-in-the-wall eateries and bars. Your adventure begins with a...
Enjoy a free morning in Tokyo. This afternoon, you’ll catch a local train to Nikko. Japanese trains are a quintessential experience and one of the best insights into culture (and efficiency!) of the country. Go shopping for some snacks or a bento box at the train stat...
You have a full day to explore Nikko today – this ancient town is overflowing with shrines and temples, some a UNESCO World Heritage site! You'll visit Toshugu Shrine – the resting place of a Tokugawa shogun who was one of the most powerful rulers of the country. The ...
Say goodbye to Nikko and set out for a bit of a travel day to Hakone. Hop on a local train, followed by two shinkansen bullet trains and finally a bus. The journey is certainly worth it, as Hakone is a scenic hot spring resort in the foothills of Mt Fuji. You’ll be staying at a family-run ryokan tonight, with tatami-mat rooms, shared bathroom facilities and a lovely outdoor hot-spring onsen.
This morning, hop on a boat across Ashinoko Lake, then ride the Hakone ropeway cable car to the top of the surrounding mountains. The area around the lake offers plenty of stunning views, and you may even catch a glimpse of Mt Fuji in the distance if weather condition...
Travel by a local train, then a shinkansen towards Takayama – a charming Edo period town in the Japanese Alps, famous for its traditional inns, sake breweries and the Hida Folk Village. The village is your first stop – an outdoor museum where the traditional thatched-...
This morning, you’ll head to the markets in Gifu prefecture – these markets have been held for over 600 years and are known for their array of high-altitude vegetables. Browse the stalls of seasonal produce that’s brought in from the surrounding countryside and set up...
Travel by express train and shinkansen to Hiroshima today. Depending on what time you arrive today, you may visit Hiroshima’s Peace Park this afternoon or tomorrow morning. The Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome and Peace Memorial Museum stand testament to the fateful day in Augus...
Today you'll make your way to the nearby island of Miyajima with its famous 'floating' torii gate. You might like to further explore the island by climbing to the top of Mt Miyajima (or hopping on the cable car instead) for 360-degree views of the Inland Sea. Keep you...
Leave Hiroshima today and take the train to Japan’s most impressive samurai castle at Himeji. The building, which has survived earthquakes and war since the mid-16th century, was restored to its full glory in 2015. The moats, baileys, towers and walled alleyways were ...
Start your day with a visit to the iconic Kinkakuji Temple, with its impressive Golden Pavilion, immortalised by Yukio Mishima's novel. Then, join a sweet-making demonstration to learn how yatsuhashi (a traditional Japanese snack of flour, sugar and cinnamon) and moch...
Enjoy a free day to explore this charming ancient capital at your own pace. Maybe head off to Arashiyama and wander through the Sagano bamboo forest, or cycle along the Kamo River. You could see the architecturally impressive Higashi Honganji Temple and the Sanjusange...
There are no activities planned for the day and you’re free to depart the hotel at any time after check out. If you would like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings
Extremely well organised, great mixture between organised
Extremely well organised, great mixture between organised and free time. Great travelling by train
The format of the trip enabled two
The format of the trip enabled two significant factors to coincide to make the entire experience overwhelmingly positive. 1. Our trip guide - Yuri Awanohara, made th...
Great introduction to the country. Variety of
Great introduction to the country. Variety of activities and all well planned by guide Yuri
well organised we appreciated not going to the
well organised we appreciated not going to the expensive, flashy and touristy restaurants, which gave us a good varied eating experience good mix of organised and ...
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